The Opelousas courier., 1887-02-12
MINT MATTERS.
The San Francisco Mint the
Largest in the World.

The San Francisco Mint the
Largest in the World.
A Worn Out Carpet that Yielded $4,000
When It was Burned.
The mint at San Francisco is the larg-
, est in the world. 1t has done, in its
time, the largest business of any mint in
the world. In the fiscal year ending June
80, 1878, there was coined at this mint
$54, 907, 500, of which $41, O39, 500 was
gold; in the same year the Philadelphia
mint only coined $22, 733, 319, of which
so, S92, 800 was gold. In the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1886, the total gold
coinage of the United States was $24, :
S61, 1913, of which San Francisco coined
$40, S57, 500. Philadelphia and New
Orleans coined most of the silver, az
parently because it was thought we'll to
give the minis at those places something
to do.
. A comparison of the coinage of the
minis of the world will show how few
! of them approach San Francisco in the
volume of the gold coinage. The fol-
lowing are the figures for the last fiscal
year:
Countries. Gold Coinage.
Mexico, S 32S,6js
Great Britain, Ii, 1909, 8I9
Germany, -, 703, 494
Austro-Hungary, 1,244,9.5
Sweden, 1,O22, 42O
Spain. 4,9S3, O04
Russia, 10, $40, 548
San Francisco, 90, S57, 500
How 'the Mint of the United States
came to be located at Philadelphia is a
story of provincial alousy. When
Philadelphia lost the seat of govern
ment her people refused to be consoled,
and were mutinous in their temper. To
pacify them it became necessary to give
them something, and the Mint was fin
ally settled upon as the peace-offering.
In point Of. fact it is sadly out of place.
There is no silver or gold produced in or
near Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is not
a great center of trade like New York.
The bullion which is converted into
coin at the Philadelphia Mint either
comes from the West or from New York.
1t would be much simpler to coin it
near the place of production or at the
place of distribution. But whenever it
is proposed to move the Mint Pennsyl-
vania is up in arme. They regard it as
the palladium of their sovereignty. The
only thing the Government can do is to
keep the Philadelphia Mint going on
odd jobs, but to do the real coinage of
the country at San Francisco.
This city has always been used to a
metallic currency. Long before the
United States had a mint here Mofitt &
Co. coined S., SO and $50 pieces for
the convenience of the people, and they
obtained a general circulation. When
the Mint was established the United
States money drove out Moffitt's money,
and it fell to a discount of 10 to 20 per
cent. People would not take his five
dollar gold pieces for more than 81, or
his eagles for moro than So, though his
coin was 1000 fine, and the United
States only $40. But in all civilized
nations the power of coming money is
regarded as an attribute of sovereignty,
and people could never feel certain that
at some time or other Mofitt might not
debase his currency.
Perhaps the most curious feature of a
mint is the care which has to be taken
to avoid a wastage of gold. Where
enormous quantities of gold are hauled
about from room to room, melted and
re-melted, rolled and re-rolled, filed and
stamped and Clipped and hammered.
there must of course be som loss ~
friction. The employees of the mint do
grease their palms, as the old banker
did, in order that every time he received
or paid off a deposit a piece or two
should stick. But in spite Of their ut
most care some particles of gold will
float into the air, and finally fetch up in
the dirt. To avoid loss from this
the most important floors are
with an iron grating, which is
removed at intervals. All sweep
both from these rooms and from
other rooms which are swept daily,
are carefully preserved and treated like
gravel on q gold bar; that is to say, they
are washed for gold, with quite salts
results. At regular stated
periods all carpets, gloves, aprons, ETC.,
are burned, and the ashes carefully
for gold. The last carpet which
taken up and burned had been on
floor for seven years; it yielded no
a sum than $4,000 in gold when it
burned.-San Francisco GaM.
EEgM%I~b. &W